This WIA winning stunner, the hands-down favorite of a comprehensive Wine Spies tasting panel earlier this year, became one of our top-selling Zins of 2019.

Bella Vineyards & Wine Caves is back, with the killer 2013 Ru’s Farm Russian River Valley Zinfandel. Bella’s winemaker Michael Dashe has made wines at some of the world’s most iconic wineries, including Ridge, Far Niente & Lafite Rothschild. Looking for a great Zin that won’t break the bank? Look no further!

You’ve got a killer setup here with dense, blood-red wine filling the glass, clinging to the sides. Then you’re off to a great start with a dark and robust nose that’s full of bramble, cinnamon, hibiscus, blackberry, nutmeg, and anise. After you have a sip, it’s up to full speed with huge and delicious vanilla, boysenberry, blackberry, caramel, hazelnut, and dulce de leche flavors. Coming in for a landing, it impresses with chewy, but compact tannin leaving room for the fruit-forward finish. Take that grill cover off and get another tank of propane. With this wine in hand, you’ll need it in working order.

Winemaker Michael Dashe has been making wine since 1986 when he got his start with Napa’s Schramsberg Wine Cellars. In 1987 he went to work for Far Niente. From there, Michael took his wine career abroad to New Zealand, where he worked for New Zealand’s Cloudy Bay winery - before a stint at world-famous Château Lafite Rothschild. Today, Michal makes wines for a handful of wineries, including Bella and his own namesake winery.